Spanning 55 ha in northeast Paris, Parc de la Villette is a captivating blend of urban park, cultural hub, and playground for all ages. Designed by Bernard Tschumi on the former site of slaughterhouses, it features the Canal de l’Ourcq and 26 iconic red “folies” – structural markers of its unique design.
Open from 6 am to 1 am, the lawns and gardens are free to visit, while major attractions set their own ticket prices. These include: Cité des Sciences (Europe’s largest interactive science museum), La Géode (IMAX cinema), Cité de la Musique & Philharmonie (classical, jazz and world music concerts), Le Zénith, Cabaret Sauvage, Trabendo, Grande Halle. Regular features include workshops, open-air cinema, festivals (Jazz à la Villette, Villette Sonique) and seasonal events.
The “cinematic promenade”—a blue ribbon of pathways weaving through twelve thematic gardens (Dunes, Mirrors, Dragon, Bamboo, Trellis, etc.)—offers a playful, sensory experience. The gardeners' patch and pass-through gardens support ecological awareness with biodiversity workshops, gardening and accessible culture.
The park exudes a vibrant mix of avant-garde architecture, festive energy and quiet greenery. Its audience is diverse—families, students, tourists, art and music lovers, people with disabilities, cyclists—reflecting its inclusive label, “Tourisme & Handicap”.
A fun fact: the folies, 10 m deconstructed cubes on a 120 m grid, embody Tschumi’s vision of a “discontinuous building”—not a traditional landscape park but a cultural landmark.
Practical tips: accessible via metro 5 & 7, tram 3b, bus, RER E, bike/car parking. Free entry for under-26s in gardens; workshops from €6. Tickets for performances available on-site or online, with many discounted rates and annual pass options.
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